Santa Cruz County Biographies
HENRY JACKSON
Submitted by Kathy Sedler
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
Henry Jackson is a prominent citizen of Watsonville, a pioneer business
man, and an earnest worker for the good of the commonwealth in which he lives.
Mr. Jackson was born of English parents, in East Prussia, in the year 1829. His
younger days were spent at school in his native country. At the age of eighteen
years
he left college and entered as an apprentice a large mercantile house, engaged
in importing and exporting all sorts of goods. Here he received a thorough
training, which has since been of great value to him.
In the year 1851 Mr. Jackson concluded to visit the western continent.
He sailed from Germany in a vessel belonging to the firm, at that time and
thereafter established in San Francisco; around Cape Horn to Valdivia and
Valparaiso, Chile. They were eight months on the voyage, and experienced
extremely rough weather almost throughout the entire journey. After a few months
in Chile he went to San Francisco, and from there to the mines on the Yuba and
American Rivers. He was taken very ill while at the mines and it was a long time
before he recovered sufficiently to either work or travel. In August, 1852, he
determined to leave the place where he had been so sick, and started on foot to
Marysville, two hundred and fifty miles away. After arriving at Marysville he
took the steamer for San Francisco, where he arrived sick and penniless. He
found friends who assisted him and he went to work as soon as he was able. A
lucky speculation netted him a few hundred dollars, and he was on his feet once
more. The doctor, however, advised him to change climate, and Mr. Jackson
accordingly came to Santa Cruz. For a while he was in the employ of F. A. Hihn,
and soon after engaged in partnership with Mr. Hihn in the mercantile trade, and
opened the first store in Watsonville, which did a flourishing business. Shortly
afterward Mr. Jackson bought out his partner's interest and conducted the
business alone.
In 1855 Mr. Jackson was married to Marie Adelaide Rodriguez, a daughter
of one of the earliest Spanish families in California. Thirteen children have
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, and all but one are still living.
Mr. Jackson remained in the general merchandise business constantly
until the year 1862, when he sold out and made a trip to Europe and England. He
was gone seven months. On returning he engaged in the commission and grain
business, which he has since followed, not only with financial success but with
the most excellent reputation for fairness, squareness, ability, and sterling
integrity.
As before mentioned, Mr. Jackson is a worker for the good of the
community. His fellow-townsmen have on several occasions recognized his worth in
that capacity. When the town was first incorporated he was chosen a member by
the board of trustees, and has since been re-elected several times. Full of vim
and progress, and yet too conservative to fall in with hasty schemes for
spending the people's money, Mr. Jackson makes a most admirable officer.
HISTORY OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.- E. S. Harrison,
Pacific Press Publ. Co., San Francisco, 1891